500 billion dollars in automatic spending cuts in effect, half at the pentagon the other half from educating, transportation, food safety and research. economists fear if washington can strike a deal the economy will fall back into recession and employment will shoot up. tahman bradley, abc news, washington. >>> sarah palin stepped out on the red carpet -- nancy pelosi stepped out on the red carpet for a night of glamour she strolled before photographers at last night's kennedy center honors she talked about efforts to resolve the impasse. >> this is not a night of politics and policy, but since you asked, yes we think it would be a wonderful christmas gift to the american people for the middle class to have a tax cut come january. >> pelosi says she will try to force a house vote on a senate passed bill to break the deadlock. >> the kennedy center on -- -- they received the nation's highest award. >>> let's look outside good morning. good news, it is dry this morning as we look down on some of the clouds hanging around some of the fog trying to form as we look from mount tamalpais this morn